Description:
Workers nationwide are drawn to the promise of prosperity in Rangoon. Only a lucky few realize their dreams.
"Than Lwin spends his days as a waiter in a Rangoon teashop. But someday, the 13-year-old hopes to return home to his family in Nyaung Pin Tha village in upper Burma�s Magwe Division that he left two years ago in search of a living wage.
"The main reason I came to Rangoon is to make money for survival. It is difficult to do this in my hometown," said Than Lwin.
Now earning 3,000 kyat (less than US $3) per month, he is at the bottom of the wage scale in Burma�s capital. But provided a place to sleep and two meals a day by his employer, Than Lwin and most other rural poor workers in the estimated 2,500 teashops in Rangoon find that serving customers provides the only route to opportunity..."
Source/publisher:
"The Irrawaddy" Vol. 10, No. 8
Date of Publication:
2002-10-00
Date of entry:
2003-06-03
Grouping:
- Individual Documents
Category:
Language:
English